Gov. Martin O’Malley stamped his own imprint on the Public Service Commission he had often lambasted over electric rates by appointing a majority of the five commissioners Friday.
The three appointments make it “once more a commission that taxpayers will be able to trust to protect consumers” and preserve a healthy electric industry, O’Malley said.
He named former Insurance Commissioner Steven Larsen as chairman to replace Kenneth Schisler, who resigned under pressure two weeks ago.
In 2003, Larsen was the regulator who blocked CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield from becoming a for-profit insurance company, a move that made him popular with state lawmakers.
The governor also appointed Susanne Brogan, who served on the PSC from 1992 to 2001, to another five-year term. He reappointed Harold Wilson, originally named by Gov. Parris Glendening, to a second term, since “he’s been standing up for consumers” and “will give us the right sort of continuity” on the commission, O’Malley said.
The four members of PSC appointed by Gov. Robert Ehrlich came under fire last year after the commission approved a 72 percent increase in electricity rates for Baltimore Gas and Electric and smaller increases for other Maryland electric providers. The battle over rate increases produced a tug-of-war over the commission with the General Assembly, and O’Malley, who was then Baltimore City mayor, went to court to block the increase and demand the commission hold hearings on it.
The legislature overrode Ehrlich’s veto and enacted a major overhaul of the commission and its powers, including firing the five commissioners, a move the Court of Appeals overturned. But Schisler’s resignation and a second vacancy gave O’Malley the opportunity to reshape the regulatory agency.
O’Malley said Larsen, Brogan and Williams would restore professionalism, competence and integrity to the commission that had lost those qualities under Ehrlich. Larsen’s reputation as a fair, firm and professional regulator outweighed his lack of experience with utility regulation.
